1979 Land Rover 109 4-door Series III

This vehicle is located in Denia. Spain but will be delivered to Baltimore. MD or Jacksonville. FL after the sale.  Please read the full listing and see below for complete details. and contact me with any questions you have.
NOTE:  If you have fewer than 50 feedbacks or do not live in the USA. please contact me BEFORE YOU BID or your bid will be deleted.  Thank you.

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1979 LAND ROVER SANTANA 109 4-DOOR (SERIES III)
ACTUAL VIN# E59909108
One owner from new.  Low original mileage.  NO RUST.  Limestone over black interior with tropical roof and silver wheels.  Mechanically perfect. running and driving as new with no issues.  A magnificent example of an iconic adventure vehicle is arguably the most sought-after "nine seater" body style.  (Really ten. in a pinch. )
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Purchased from the original owner. this 109 has had a careful life. free from off road use.  It has been gently driven. well maintained. and has received any needed maintenance or repair over the years that it needed.  As a result. it is as clean and nice as we have seen in an unrestored vehicle.

The classic Limestone colored exterior shines well. having received a high quality respray in 2012. nbsp;and bodywork is straight and undamaged with excellent panel gaps.  Doors open and shut with a reassuring "thunk. and the detailing as you walk around it is excellent throughout.  There is no rust anywhere. either on the chassis or anywhere else. and everything looks correct and solid.  The hard top is fitted with the added "tropical roof" panel (wonderful in hot climes) and the roof mounted spare is an unusual but clever fitment.  As with all "series" Land Rovers. the upper bodywork can be removed entirely. for fully open motoring. but this unit. still retaining its original full headliner. shows no signs of ever having been off the vehicle.  

Seats are original. and outstanding. with the fronts showing wear commensurate with the age and gentle use. but no damage.  The second row seating is excellent with no discernible wear. and the optional folding jump seats were removed by the original owner when new and stored carefully since. so they are truly as they came out of the factory.  With all in place. the vehicle can hold ten people including the driver. or the rear jump seats can be folded up or removed entirely for additional load carrying capacity.

The chassis is clean and straight. with no rust or damage.  There is no rust in the floors. no rust in the bottoms of the doors. and no rust in the bulkheads.  The original silver wheels show some light surface corrosion. but would clean up easily. and all five tires are in good condition.

 

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

Ah. a big Land Rover.  There really isn't anything quite like one.  Agricultural. a little rough around the edges. and sometimes even a little unwieldy. they are nevertheless immensely strong. incredibly capable. and perhaps more able to make any drive of any distance feel like a grand adventure than any vehicle ever built.

Climb up into the drivers seat and warm the glow plugs a little and the diesel engine fires to life with just a (normal) puff of smoke that goes away immediately and never returns.  The steering. characteristically a bit heavy and slow. shows no wear in the steering box. and the gear change is correct with no crunching up or down in any gear.

Set off and the diesel engine proves a willing partner.  With the longer gearing on this 1979 model. you won't win any drag races. but were you expecting to?  And the tradeoff. maximum cruising speeds in excess of 65mph. is a welcome one and makes the big Landy far more useable in a modern context.  On virtually any type of road. keeping up with traffic is no problem at all. not something that could often be said of an earlier example. and the whole thing just. works.  Fill it with people and gear and go anywhere. knowing the 109 will make it through anything and bring you home again.  After all. that's what they're famous for.

Off road. a Series Land Rover is a beast.  These are iconic vehicles for a reason. and what has often been forgotten in the generations since they first appeared is just how awesome they are in the messy stuff.  A 109 in 2-wheel drive will get through just about anything you might normally encounter. even when off roading.  With 4-wheel drive engaged. it's a monster.  And then you still have low range to fall back on if you need it.  So head out into the hills for some camping. make your way to that remote fishing hole you've been dreaming about. or reach that remote surf break that only the locals know about.  And while you're at it. why not bring nine of your closest friends with you?

This example does everything as it should.  All mechanicals works correctly. gauges and lights function perfectly. and the driving dynamics are spot on.  It needs nothing. and can be put to use tomorrow. doing anything you want it to do.

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I am an American. living in Spain. and I export vehicles to the USA regularly.  Although shipping costs are not included in the price of the sale. I have contacts with an established worldwide shipper and will work directly with the buyer to arrange delivery to the USA.  I will drop the vehicle off at the port of Valencia for you at no additional cost. help you prepare all the proper documentation for shipping to the USA. and assist with US customs and importation on the USA side.
If you would like me to handle the shipping. customs paperwork. and everything for you. I can offer a flat-rate of $1900. port-to-port. to your choice of Baltimore. MD.  or Jacksonville. FL.  Freeport (Galveston). TX can also be arranged. but contact me first as this takes a little more time.
Once the vehicle is in your possession. you will also have all the documents you need to register the car in any of 49 states.  (California excepted. )  I can even arrange transportation within the USA. from the port to your driveway.  In short. I am here to help with every step of the process of delivering this vehicle to you.
You are. of course. welcome to fly here and test the car for yourself before you bid. but if that is not feasible. I will be happy to take additional photos. videos. etc. and send them to you.  Whatever you need.  We can speak on the telephone. or by Skype. so you can see the vehicle in real time before you bid.
If you have any questions. please ask and I will post as many answers here as possible.
For more details. see https://www. autologymotors. com/land_rover_109.

Also published at eBay.com

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